Earth working apparatus



April 28, 1959 R. l.. CHANDLER ET AL l 2,883,773l

EARTH WORKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CLAUDE B. OGLE, Jl?.

BY Z

April 28, 1959 R. l.. CHANDLER ETAL EARTH WORKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 ROY L. CMNDLER CLAUDE B. OGLE, Ji?.

INVENTORS.

United States Patent EARTH' WORKING APPARATUS Roy L. Chandler, Bell, and Claude B. Ogle,` Jr. Pasadella, Calif., assignors to Atlas Scraper and Engineermg Co., Bell, Calif., a corporation ofv California Application August 22, 1955, Seriall No; 529,718l Claims. (Cl. B17- 126)y The present invention relates' generally' to earth working apparatus, `and is more particularly Concerned with apparatus of this character which may xbe utilized for the grading and leveling of 4land for irrigation and other puiposes.

Heretofore, land leveling equipmenthas in general conn prised a wheeled frame structure of'considerable length, caster wheels being provided at the ends of this structure and a blade supporting bowl being positioned Ibetween' the ends of the frame structure. In the' conventional arrangements, the bowl has been supported on a single pivotal axis so that it may the blade into non-working position and a working posi'- tion. The bowl was positioned below the wheeled frame structure, andl as thusI arranged, the raising movement of the bowl' was limited by the wheeledv frame structure, and in raised position of the blade the bowlv projected below the wheeled structure frame. Therefore', unless'the' |bowl was made relatively shallow, there was insu'cient clearance for transporting movement of the leveler from one place to another without d'iiculty, especially if the surfacev over which the leveler' was to be transported was of uneven character. The use of a shallow' bowl was a disadvantage, yet Ybecame Ia necessity in order tov be able to transport the leveler from one place to another.

The present inventiony seeks to provide an improved' pivotal supporting means whereby the rbowl may be automatically moved to a greater elevatedf position forY transport, and' in this position greater ground clearancel will be` provided for the blade, and at the same time permit the. use of a deeper bowl construction with its attending advantages.

Another object is to-provide la blade support which will' automatically shift its'pivotal axis of movement during raisingi and lowering movements of the blade support, and. wherein the blade will be carried! to an elevated positionhigher than normally utilized under working conditions in the.l conventional arrangement.

A still further object is to provide an improvedrnecha'- nism for raising and loweringthe blade, whichl willlalways' return the `blade to. the same cutting depth, Iand' which includes toggle forming members which may be adjusted to longitudinally tilt. the blade" and: adapt it for differentr conditions. of use, and wherein,the-toggle'memberswill: be` aligned'. and serve to lock or oppose raising; movements of theH bladev as a result of working pressure thereagainst during. use.

Further. objects of the invention will be. broughtoutin..

the following part of the specification, whereindet-ailedv description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the inven-V tion without placing limitations on the scope ofthe invention defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the acompanying'drawi'ngs, whichxare for illustrative purposes only :v

Fig. l is a sideelevationalview of land leveler equipment. embodying the features of the herein described invention;

Fig, 2 is an enlarged fragmentary Siderelevational` view* 1be raised and lowered" to bringY to the' partition plate. 32', in'. each. case;

2,883,773 Patented Apr. 28,y 1959v ri ice blade raised to a further elevated position permitting;

transport with maximum surface clearance.

Referring now to the drawings, for purposes of illustration, the equipment of the present invention. is shown in Fig. 1 as. comprising, a generally rectangular elongatev frame structure 10 fabricated from structural membersA arranged' to provide side trusses, each ofwhich has alower. rail 1I and upper rail 12. The frame structure is rigidly reenforced by vertical and horizontal cross. bracing so as. to prevent weaving of the frame and insure correct oper,-y ation of the equipment during use.

The frame structure is wheel-supported for mobility, a wheel 13 being operatively supported in ya pivotally mounted yoke 14 at each corner of the frame structure..

At its forward end, the frame structure is provided with..

fa tongue 15 which ispivotally connected at 16 to a yoke member 17 for carrying the towed stresses rearwardly to points adjacent the blade. mounting structure, thusrelieving. the members of the frame structure and preventing, distortion thereof `when the equipment is towed by a tractor, or other means.

Intermediate the endsr of the frame structure 10, the, lower rails 11-1'1' are interconnected by a transversely extendingbolster 18` having its respective ends projecting rbeyond the adjacent side trusses of the. frame structure. 10.;l Asz shown in Figs. 2y and` 3,. a scraper blade 19 s carried. by an adjustable bowl frameworkZll which depends below the frame structure 10 and supports the scraper Iblade soi that it extends transversely thereof.

The bowl framework comprises a deflector back plate- 21 which is connected lat its ends to rear or trailing, ends of side plates 22-22 as by welding or otherwise, these side plates havingtheir forward ends connected by pivot means; as generally indicatedl at 23, to the outer ends ofthe bolster 18 to permit swinging movement of the bowl as. willy hereinafter 'be explained. The deector back plate1 21. carries a transversely extending reenforcingy bar along its uppermost edge,l this bar being shown in this instance as being of cylindrical or round configuration. The lowermost edge of the back` plate is reenforced in this case by any `angleA beam 25, the blade 19 being reversiblyv secured to the deiiector plate andA reenforcing angle beam by sui'table securing bolts 25. As shown, the capacity of the bowl may be increasedy by providing extensions 22 on the side plates 22.

The actuating mechanism for pivotally swinging the lbowl framework 20 will now be described. For such purpose there is provided a rotatably mounted transversely extending shaftv 27, the ends of the shaft being supportedl in bearing plate members 2Sl28 supported from. each upper nail 12. T he` ends of the shaft 27 project laterally' the free end ofthe `arm being pivotally connected as. atl

30` with an adjustable link 31 having its outer end pivot ally connected with a partition plate 32 carried bythebowl and secured tothe: deflector back plate 21.

As shown more clearlyinFig. 2, the adjustable link 3'1 comprises UJ-shaped connector members 33 and 34,r the-` first of.these-being.connectedto the arm- 29 and the latter The LIU-sliapedt4 enseres members are interconnected by a screw threaded member which may be turned in opposite directions to lengthen or shorten the length of the link 31, and by this adjustment the blade 19 may be adjustably tilted longitudinally to accommodate it for different operating conditions met with in the utilization of the equipment described herein.

Centrally positioned of the shaft 27 is an arm 36 which is fixedly secured at its inner end to the shaft for rotation therewith and projects outwardly at substantially right angles to the arms 29-29- The outer end of the arm 36 is deected to facilitate connection with a power delivery element 37 associated with hydraulic cylinder 38 or other suitable actuator connected to a mounting lug 39 or other suitable part of the frame structure l0. The hydraulic cylinder is so arranged in relation to the arm 36 and arms 29-29 that the power delivery element 37 will be extended when the bowl framework is in lowered working position of the blade 19, and will be partially retracted when the bowl framework is in a irst raised or non-working position as shown in Fig. 4, and will be fully retracted when the framework 20 is in a further elevated position to place the blade in a transport position, as will subsequently be more fully explained.

p As shown in Fig. 2, when the blade is in its lowermost working position, the arm 29 and adjustable link 31 of each toggle will be axially in longitudinal alignment so as to form a lock which will retain the blade against rising movement under working pressure, during operation of the equipment.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the forward end of each side plate 22 is provided with a transversely extending slot 40 which is defined by inwardly converging edges 41 and 42, these edges extending inwardly from a slot entrance opening 43. The inner end of the slot is enlarged by provision of a laterally extending notch 44 formed in one of the slot edges. Cooperatively associated with this end of the side plate 22 are a pair of vertically aligned spaced apart pins 45 and 46 which are supported upon guide plates 47 attached to the adjacent end of bolster 18. The pins 45 and 46 are normally positioned within the slot 40, and in the working position of the blade 19, it will be observed that the pin 46 is in engagement with the slot edge 42 and that by virtue of this engagement the pin 45 will be positioned within the notch 44 so as to form a pivot for this end of the bowl until the bowl is raised to such a position that engagement of pin 46 against edge 41 will force the pin 45 out of the notch and into the inner end of the slot 40, thus releasing the pivot at this end of the side plate 22. This action will take place when the bowl structure framework is moved to a rst raised or nonworking position as shown in Fig. 4.

At the non-working position just referred to, the ends of the reenforcing bar 24 are respectively adapted to seat in a notch 47 in a plate member 48 secured to a lower rail 11. Since the connection of the U-shaped member 34 to the partition plate 32 is forwardly offset with respect to the notch 47 and reenforcing bar 24 therein, further laction of the power means to rotate the shaft 27 in a clockwise direction will cause the forward end of the side plates 22 to swing upwardly away from the pins 45 and 46 to assume an upwardly inclined position extending from the pivotal axis formed by the reenforcing bar 24, in which position the bows and associated blade 19 will be further elevated to a transport position as shown in Fig. so as to give maximum ground clearance over that obtainable by the conventional position ordinarily obtained as shown in Fig. 4 in which the side plates 22 are in substantially parallel relation to the lower rails 11-11 of the frame structure.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that it will be readily apparent that applicants unique arrangement enables the use of a deeper bowl without sacrificing ground clearance for transporting the leveler equipment.

from one location to another, and that unique means are provided for further elevating the bowl and associated scraper blade to a higher transporting position than ordinarily obtainable in conventional arrangements.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention, and, hence, we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A land leveler, comprising; an elongate wheeled structure; a bowl structure having side members respectively extending along the sides of the wheeled struc ture, each of said side members having a forward and rear end; a scraper blade carried by said bowl structure, said blade extending between said side members; pivot means connecting the forward ends of said members to said wheeled structure enabling swinging movement of the rear ends of said members to move the blade between a lowered position and a rst raised position; pivot means connectable with the rear ends of said members in said rst raised position enabling swinging movement of the forward ends of said members to move the blade between the rst raised position and a higher raised position; a pair of links at each end of the blade interconnected to form a toggle, one of said links having its outer end connected with the associated blade end, and the other link having its outer end mounted for swinging movement; and power means for simultaneously swinging the said other links to cause movement of said bowl.

2. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate wheeled structure; a bowl structure having side members respectively extending along the sides of the wheeled structure, each of said side members having a forward and rear end; a scraper blade carried by said bowl structure, said blade extending between said side members; pivot means connecting the forward ends of said members to said wheeled structure enabling swinging movement of the rear ends of said members to move the blade between a lowerd position and a first raised position; pivot means connectable with the rear ends of said members in said iirst raised position enabling swinging movement of the forward ends of said members to move the blade between the rst raised position and a higher raised position; a pair of links at each end of the blade interconnected to form a toggle, one of said links having its outer end connected with the associated blade end, and the other link having its outer end mounted for swinging movement; and power means for simultaneously swinging the said other links to cause movement of said bowl, the links of each toggle being arranged for axial alignment in fully lowered position of the blade.

3. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate wheeled structure; a bowl structure having side members respectively extending along the sides of the wheeled structure, each of said side members having a forward end and a rear end; a scraper blade carried by said bowl structure, said blade extending between said side members; pivot means connecting the forward ends of said members to said wheeled structure enabling swinging movement of the rear ends of said members to move the blade between a lowered position and a first raised position; pivot means connectable with the rear ends of said members in said first raised position enabling swinging movement of the forward ends of said members to move the blade between the rst raised position and a higher raised position; a pair of links at each end of the blade interconnected to form a toggle, one of said links being adjustable as to length and having its outer end connected with the associated blade end, and the other link having its outer end mounted for swinging movement; and power means for simultaassegna 5. neoualy 'swinging the-said other linksl toi cause:l movement:v of sai'd bowl.

4. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate Wheeled structure; a blade supporting frame having a forward end anda rear end; a first pivotal connection between said structure and frame enabling swinging movement of the frame about its forward end and movement of the; rear end. of the frame between a blade working position and an elevated blade non-working position, said pivotal connection including a frame member with a slot open at its outer end and having inwardly converging side edges, said slot at its inner end being enlarged on one side to form a communicating notch in one side edge thereof, and a pair of vertically aligned spaced apart pins on said Wheeled structure positioned in said slot, the innermost pin forming a pivot and the outer pin acting to shift the inner pin into and out of said notch in response to swinging movement of the rear end of said frame; a second pivotal connection for the rear end of said frame including a part on said wheeled structure defining a downwardly opening edge notch, and a cylindrical member carried by the rear end of said frame adapted to seat in said notch in the nonworking position of said blade to enable swinging movement of the frame about its rear end to disengage the first pivotal connection and move the forward end of the frame between said blade non-working position and a further elevated blade transport position; and means for moving said frame.

5. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate wheeled structure; a blade supporting frame having a forward end and a rear end; a first pivotal connection between said structure and frame enabling swinging movement of the frame about its forward end and movement of the rear end of the frame between a blade working position and an elevated blade non-working position, said pivotal connection including a frame member with a slot open at its outer end and having inwardly converging side edges, said slot at its inner end being enlarged on one side to form a communicating notch in one side edge thereof, and a pair of vertically aligned spaced apart pins on said wheeled structure positioned in said slot, the innermost pin forming a pivot and the outer pin acting to shift the inner pin into and out of said notch in response to swinging movement of the rear end of said frame; a second pivotal connection lhaving parts brought into cooperative association in said non-working position enabling swinging movement of the frame about its rear end and movement of the forward end of the frame between said blade nonworking position and a further elevated blade transport position; and means for moving said frame.

6. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate wheeled structure; a blade supporting frame having a forward end and a rear end; a first pivotal connection between said structure and frame enabling swinging movement of the frame about its forward end and movement of the rear end of the frame between a blade working position and an elevated blade non-working position, said pivotal connection having pivot forming parts disengageable in the non-working position of the blade; a second pivotal connection for the rear end of said frame including a part on said wheel structure defining a downwardly opening edge notch, and a cylindrical member carried by the rear end of said frame adapted to seat in said notch in the non-working position of said blade to enable swinging movement of the frame about its rear end to disengage the rst pivotal connection parts and move the forward end of the frame between said blade non-working position and a further elevated blade transport position; and means for moving said frame.

7. In a land leveler, an elongate wheeled structure; a transversely extending scraper blade; a framework carried by said structure for supporting said blade below said. andmeans forv raisingwthe: framework: anrllblade;y aboveA itsy normal ground' engaging operating; position toprovide: transport. road.v clearance, said means comprisinga forward pivot andA a rear pivot with re- Spect. to; thef direction of movement` of said structure to, releasably;V connect. a forward portion and a rear,` portion` reslnectivelyy of saidframework to sai'd-v wheeledr structureg, said forward: portion being connected tov said forward pivot and said rear portion being released from said rear pivot when said framework is in a blade-lowered position to enable a first swinging movement of the framework upwardly about the forward pivot in a counterclockwise direction, said rear portion being connected to said rear pivot and said forward portion being released from said forward pivot upon completion of said first movement to enable a subsequent swinging movement of the framework upwardly about the rear pivot in a clockwise direction.

8. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate wheeled structure; a transversely extending scraper blade; a framework carried by said wheeled structure having a rear end positioned towards the back of said structure forming a support for said blade, and a forward end positioned towards the front of said structure; a first pivot connecting said forward end with the wheeled structure when the blade is in a ground engaging working position, said first pivot being operative to support the framework for upward swinging movement in one direction to carry the blade between a lowered position and a first raised position in which said pivot is released; and a second pivot for connecting the rear end of said framework and wheeled structure, said pivot being released at said lowered position of the blade but operative at the first raised position to support the framework for further upward swinging movement in a direction opposite to said first direction to carry the blade between the first raised position and a higher raised position.

9. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate wheeled structure; a bowl structure carried by said wheeled structure, said bowl structure having side members respectively extending along the sides of the wheeled structure, each of said side members having a forward and rear end with respect to the direction of travel of said wheeled structure; a scraper blade carried by the rear ends of said side members; pivot means having disengaged parts operative upon engagement to connect the forward ends of said side members with the wheeled structure, when the blade is in a ground engaging working position, so as to enable upward swinging movement of the rear ends of said members in a first direction to move the blade between a lowered position and a first raised position in which said pivot parts are disengaged; and other pivot means having parts disengaged in the working position of said blade, but engaged in said first raised position, whereby upward swinging movement of the forward ends of said members may follow in a direction opposite said first direction to move the blade between the first raised position and a higher raised position; and means for moving said bowl structure.

l0. A land leveler, comprising: an elongate wheeled structure; a frame carried by said structure, said frame having a forward end and a rear end with respect to the direction of travel of said wheeled structure; a blade carried by the rear end of said frame; a first pivotal structure having engageable and disengageable parts, said parts being engaged to form a pivotal connection between said structure and the forward end of the frame, when the blade is in a ground engaging working position, so as to enable upward swinging movement of the frame in a first direction about its forward end to carry the rear end of the frame between said blade working position and an elevated blade non-working position; means for disengaging said parts in said non-working position of said blade; a second pivotal structure having aaaervvs 7, engageable and disengageabie parts, said parts being disengaged in the working position of the blade, but brought into engaged cooperative association by movement to said non-Working position to form a pivotal connection between said structure and the rear end of said frame so as to enable further upward swinging movement of the frame in a direction opposite said rst direction about its rear end to carry the forward end of the frame said frame.

References Cited in the le of thisv patent UNITED STATES PATENTS COX Aug. 10, 1937 

